A regional Industrial Symbiosis methodology and its implementation in Geneva, Switzerland

The Agenda 21 for the Geneva region is the results from a broad consultation process including all local actors. The article 12 stipulates that « the State facilitates possible synergies between economic activities in order to minimize their environmental impacts » thus opening the way for Industrial Ecology (IE) and Industrial Symbiosis (IS). An Advisory Board for Industrial Ecology and Industrial Symbiosis implementation was established in 2002 involving relevant government agencies. Regulatory and technical conditions for IS are studied in the Swiss context. Results reveal that the Swiss law on waste does not hinder by-product exchanges. Methodology and technical factors including geographic, qualitative, quantitative and economical aspects are detailed. The competition with waste operators in a highly developed recycling system is also tackled.The IS project develops an empirical and systematic method for detecting and implementing by-products synergies between industrial actors disseminated throughout the Geneva region. Database management tool for the treatment of input-output analysis data and GIS tools for detecting potentials industrial partners are constantly improved. Potential symbioses for 17 flows (including energy, water and material flows) are currently studied for implementation.

Field Monitoring of Curved Girder Bridges with Integral Abutments, TPF-5(169), 2014

Nationally, there are questions regarding the design, fabrication, and erection of horizontally curved steel girder bridges due to unpredicted girder displacements, fit-up, and locked-in stresses. One reason for the concerns is that up to one-quarter of steel girder bridges are being designed with horizontal curvature. There is also an urgent need to reduce bridge maintenance costs by eliminating or reducing deck joints, which can be achieved by expanding the use of integral abutments to include curved girder bridges. However, the behavior of horizontally curved bridges with integral abutments during thermal loading is not well known nor understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavior of horizontal curved bridges with integral abutment (IAB) and semi-integral abutment bridges (SIAB) with a specific interest in the response to changing temperatures. The long-term objective of this effort is to establish guidelines for the use of integral abutments with curved girder bridges. The primary objective of this work was to monitor and evaluate the behavior of six in-service, horizontally curved, steel-girder bridges with integral and semi-integral abutments. In addition, the influence of bridge curvature, skew and pier bearing (expansion and fixed) were also part of the study. Two monitoring systems were designed and applied to a set of four horizontally curved bridges and two straight bridges at the northeast corner of Des Moines, Iowa—one system for measuring strains and movement under long term thermal changes and one system for measuring the behavior under short term, controlled live loading. A finite element model was developed and validated against the measured strains. The model was then used to investigate the sensitivity of design calculations to curvature, skew and pier joint conditions. The general conclusions were as follows: (1) There were no measurable differences in the behavior of the horizontally curved bridges and straight bridges studied in this work under thermal effects. For preliminary member sizing of curved bridges, thermal stresses and movements in a straight bridge of the same length are a reasonable first approximation. (2) Thermal strains in integral abutment and semi-integral abutment bridges were not noticeably different. The choice between IAB and SIAB should be based on life – cycle costs (e.g., construction and maintenance). (3) An expansion bearing pier reduces the thermal stresses in the girders of the straight bridge but does not appear to reduce the stresses in the girders of the curved bridge. (4) An analysis of the bridges predicted a substantial total stress (sum of the vertical bending stress, the lateral bending stress, and the axial stress) up to 3 ksi due to temperature effects. (5) For the one curved integral abutment bridge studied at length, the stresses in the girders significantly vary with changes in skew and curvature. With a 10⁰ skew and 0.06 radians arc span length to radius ratio, the curved and skew integral abutment bridges can be designed as a straight bridge if an error in estimation of the stresses of 10% is acceptable.

Coûts humains de la dépendance au tabac [Human costs of tobacco dependence]

Human costs are an indicator of the value attributed to human burden related to diseases. The present paper summarizes a Swiss study. led by economists and physicians, which estimate the monetary value attributed by the general population regarding the consequences on quality of life of smoking related diseases. Such economic study may contribute to better understand smokers' concerns and beliefs and to improve effective strategies for smoking cessation in primary care.

MHC class II hierarchy of superantigen presentation predicts efficiency of infection with mouse mammary tumor virus.

Superantigens (SAgs) encoded by infectious mouse mammary tumor viruses (MMTVs) play a crucial role in the viral life cycle. Their expression by infected B cells induces a proliferative immune response by SAg-reactive T cells which amplifies MMTV infection. This response most likely ensures stable MMTV infection and transmission to the mammary gland. Since T cell reactivity to SAgs from endogenous Mtv loci depends on MHC class II molecules expressed by B cells, we have determined the ability of MMTV to infect various MHC congenic mice. We show that MHC class II I-E+ compared with I-E- mouse strains show higher levels of MMTV infection, most likely due to their ability to induce a vigorous SAg-dependent immune response following MMTV encounter. Inefficient infection is observed in MHC class II I-E- mice, which have been shown to present endogenous SAgs poorly. Therefore, during MMTV infection the differential ability of MHC class II molecules to form a functional complex with SAg determines the magnitude of the proliferative response of SAg-reactive T cells. This in turn influences the degree of T cell help provided to infected B cells and therefore the efficiency of amplification of MMTV infection.

Roles of superantigens in microbial infections?

Superantigens have been defined in a variety of infectious particles such as bacteria and viruses. These superantigens have the capacity to stimulate a large percentage of the host T cells by interacting specifically with the T-cell receptor V beta chain which is shared by about 1-20% of mature T cells. The recent discovery that mammary tumour viruses express such superantigens enabled the analysis of the retroviral life cycle and led to questions about the role of superantigen in amplification of the infection.

Habitat selection in zones of parapatric contact between the common shrew Sorex araneaus and Millet's shrew S. coronatus

(1) The common shrew Sorex araneus and Millet's shrew S. coronatusare sibling species.They are morphologically and genetically very similar but do not hybridize.Their parapatric distribution throughout south-western Europe, with a few narrow zones of distributional overlap, suggests that they are in competitive parapatry. (2) Two of these contact zones were studied; there was evidence of coexistence over periods of 2 years as well as habitat segregation. In both zones, the species segregated on litter thickness and humidity variables. (3) A simple analysis of spatial distribution showed that habitats visible in the field corresponded to the habitats selected by the species. Habitat selection was found throughout the annual life-cycle of the shrews. (4) In one contact zone, a removal experiment was performed to test whether habitat segregation is induced by interspecific interactions. The experiment showed that the species select habitats differentially when both are present and abandon habitat selection when their competitor removed. (5)These results confirm the role of resource partitioning in promoting narrow ranges of distributional overlap between such parapatric species and qualitatively support the prediction of habitat selection theory that, in a two-species system, coexistence may be achieved by differential habitat selection to avoid competition. The results also support the view that the common shrew and Millet's shrew are in competitive parapatry.

Host genome influences on susceptibility to HIV-1

In vitro and in vivo analyses identified a significant component of heritability in cellular or host susceptibility to HIV-1. The bases for susceptibility can be traced to genetic differences (inter-species) resulting from evolutionary adaptation to exogenous (and endogenous) retroviral infections, and to intra-species and inter-individual (human) differences associated with genetic variation. We have completed large scale evolutionary analysis of genes involved in HIV life cycle and pathogenesis, as well as participating and conducting genome-wide association studies, linkage analysis, and transcriptome analysis. These studies allowed a better understanding of the influence of common human variants in HIV-1 susceptibility and define a number of experimental challenges in the filed: understanding of the role of rare and private mutations in susceptibility, and the development of better tools for the integration of data from large-scale studies.

Structural Characterization of UHPC Waffle Bridge Deck and Connections, TR-614, 2014

The AASHTO strategic plan in 2005 for bridge engineering identified extending the service life of bridges and accelerating bridge construction as two of the grand challenges in bridge engineering. These challenges have the objective of producing safer and more economical bridges at a faster rate with a minimum service life of 75 years and reduced maintenance cost to serve the country’s infrastructure needs. Previous studies have shown that a prefabricated full-depth precast concrete deck system is an innovative technique that accelerates the rehabilitation process of a bridge deck, extending its service life with reduced user delays and community disruptions and lowering its life-cycle costs. Previous use of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for bridge applications in the United States has been considered to be efficient and economical because of its superior structural characteristics and durability properties. Full-depth UHPC waffle deck panel systems have been developed over the past three years in Europe and the United States. Subsequently, a single span, 60-ft long and 33-ft wide prototype bridge with full-depth prefabricated UHPC waffle deck panels has been designed and built for a replacement bridge in Wapello County, Iowa. The structural performance characteristics and the constructability of the UHPC waffle deck system and its critical connections were studied through an experimental program at the structural laboratory of Iowa State University (ISU). Two prefabricated full-depth UHPC waffle deck (8 feet by 9 feet 9 inches by 8 inches) panels were connected to 24-ft long precast girders, and the system was tested under service, fatigue, overload, and ultimate loads. Three months after the completion of the bridge with waffle deck system, it was load tested under live loads in February 2012. The measured strain and deflection values were within the acceptable limits, validating the structural performance of the bridge deck. Based on the laboratory test results, observations, field testing of the prototype bridge, and experience gained from the sequence of construction events such as panel fabrication and casting of transverse and longitudinal joints, a prefabricated UHPC waffle deck system is found to be a viable option to achieve the goals of the AASHTO strategic plan.

Cost-effectiveness of surgery in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in provision of essential surgical care as part of public health policy in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Relatively simple interventions have been shown to prevent death and disability. We reviewed the published literature to examine the cost-effectiveness of simple surgical interventions which could be made available at any district hospital, and compared these to standard public health interventions. METHODS: PubMed and EMBASE were searched using single and combinations of the search terms "disability adjusted life year" (DALY), "quality adjusted life year," "cost-effectiveness," and "surgery." Articles were included if they detailed the cost-effectiveness of a surgical intervention of relevance to a LMIC, which could be made available at any district hospital. Suitable articles with both cost and effectiveness data were identified and, where possible, data were extrapolated to enable comparison across studies. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles met our inclusion criteria, representing 64 LMIC over 16 years of study. Interventions that were found to be cost-effective included cataract surgery (cost/DALY averted range US$5.06-$106.00), elective inguinal hernia repair (cost/DALY averted range US$12.88-$78.18), male circumcision (cost/DALY averted range US$7.38-$319.29), emergency cesarean section (cost/DALY averted range US$18-$3,462.00), and cleft lip and palate repair (cost/DALY averted range US$15.44-$96.04). A small district hospital with basic surgical services was also found to be highly cost-effective (cost/DALY averted 1 US$0.93), as were larger hospitals offering emergency and trauma surgery (cost/DALY averted US$32.78-$223.00). This compares favorably with other standard public health interventions, such as oral rehydration therapy (US$1,062.00), vitamin A supplementation (US$6.00-$12.00), breast feeding promotion (US$930.00), and highly active anti-retroviral therapy for HIV (US$922.00). CONCLUSIONS: Simple surgical interventions that are life-saving and disability-preventing should be considered as part of public health policy in LMIC. We recommend an investment in surgical care and its integration with other public health measures at the district hospital level, rather than investment in single disease strategies.

Population viscosity can promote the evolution of altruistic sterile helpers and eusociality.

Because it increases relatedness between interacting individuals, population viscosity has been proposed to favour the evolution of altruistic helping. However, because it increases local competition between relatives, population viscosity may also act as a brake for the evolution of helping behaviours. In simple models, the kin selected fecundity benefits of helping are exactly cancelled out by the cost of increased competition between relatives when helping occurs after dispersal. This result has lead to the widespread view, especially among people working with social organisms, that special conditions are required for the evolution of altruism. Here, we re-examine this result by constructing a simple population genetic model where we analyse whether the evolution of a sterile worker caste (i.e. an extreme case of altruism) can be selected for by limited dispersal. We show that a sterile worker caste can be selected for even under the simplest life-cycle assumptions. This has relevant consequences for our understanding of the evolution of altruism in social organisms, as many social insects are characterized by limited dispersal and significant genetic population structure.

Molecular characterization of the processing of arenavirus envelope glycoprotein precursors by subtilisin kexin isozyme-1/site-1 protease.

A crucial step in the life cycle of arenaviruses is the biosynthesis of the mature fusion-active viral envelope glycoprotein (GP) that is essential for virus-host cell attachment and entry. The maturation of the arenavirus GP precursor (GPC) critically depends on proteolytic processing by the cellular proprotein convertase (PC) subtilisin kexin isozyme-1 (SKI-1)/site-1 protease (S1P). Here we undertook a molecular characterization of the SKI-1/S1P processing of the GPCs of the prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and the pathogenic Lassa virus (LASV). Previous studies showed that the GPC of LASV undergoes processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)/cis-Golgi compartment, whereas the LCMV GPC is cleaved in a late Golgi compartment. Herein we confirm these findings and provide evidence that the SKI-1/S1P recognition site RRLL, present in the SKI-1/S1P prodomain and LASV GPC, but not in the LCMV GPC, is crucial for the processing of the LASV GPC in the ER/cis-Golgi compartment. Our structure-function analysis revealed that the cleavage of arenavirus GPCs, but not cellular substrates, critically depends on the autoprocessing of SKI-1/S1P, suggesting differences in the processing of cellular and viral substrates. Deletion mutagenesis showed that the transmembrane and intracellular domains of SKI-1/S1P are dispensable for arenavirus GPC processing. The expression of a soluble form of the protease in SKI-I/S1P-deficient cells resulted in the efficient processing of arenavirus GPCs and rescued productive virus infection. However, exogenous soluble SKI-1/S1P was unable to process LCMV and LASV GPCs displayed at the surface of SKI-I/S1P-deficient cells, indicating that GPC processing occurs in an intracellular compartment. In sum, our study reveals important differences in the SKI-1/S1P processing of viral and cellular substrates.

Vaatetus- ja tekstiilimateriaalien ekologinen elinjakson hallinta Talousvarikon toiminnoissa

Tämän case -tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on kartoittaa tekstiili- ja vaatetusmateriaalien ekologista elinjakson hallintaa Talousvarikon toiminnoissa ja tutkimalla mahdollisuuksia soveltaa saatuja tuloksia. Talousvarikko on Puolustusvoimien Materiaalilaitoksen alainen järjestelmävastuuvarikko, jonka tehtävänä on varusmiesten ja kadettien vaatetuksen hankinta- ja ylläpitotoiminnot. Talousvarikko jakautuu neljälle paikkakunnalle. Hämeenlinnassa on hankinta-, hallinto- ja materiaaliosasto. Säkylässä, Mikkelissä ja Sodankylässä ovat vaatetuskorjaamot. Tekstiilimateriaalien elinkaariajattelussa tarkastellaan raaka-aineiden jaottelua ja maailman kuitutuotantoa. Tekstiilikuidut jaotellaan luonnon- ja tekokuituihin. Luonnonkuidut ovat pääosin luonnon raaka-aineita ja tekokuidut ovat synteettisesti valmistettuja. Tekstiilikuitujen- ja materiaalien vaikutus ekologiseen elinjakson hallinnan vaiheisiin on riippuvainen raaka-aineidenalkuperästä. Vaatetus- ja tekstiilimateriaalin elinkaari muodostuu tuotekehityksestä, hankinnasta, valmistuksesta, käytöstä, huollosta ja hylkäyksestä. Ekologista elinjakson hallintaa tarkastellaan materiaalivirta- ja elinkaarianalyysien kautta. Elinkaarianalyysin tarkastelu painottuu vaikutusluokkien arvottamiseen ja materiaalivirta-analyysissä tarkastellaan ainevirtoja ja sitä kautta jätteiden määrän vähentämistä. Joutsenmerkin valintakriteerien pohjana on aina tuotteiden elinkaarianalyysi. Joutsenmerkin valintakriteerien soveltaminen Talousvarikon toimintoihin vaatetus- ja tekstiilimateriaalin elinkaaren jokaisessa vaiheessa antaa mahdollisuuden lisätä ekologista elinkaaren hallintaa Talousvarikon toiminnoissa. Ympäristönäkökohtien huomioiminen tuotekehityksessä ja hankinnoissa antaa mahdollisuuden tehdä tilauksia / sopimuksia yhteiskuntavastuullisilta yrityksiltä huomioiden valmistuksen yhdeksi osaksi hankinta ja logistiikka pääprosessia.

Laitteen elinkaaritietoon perustuvien asiakasarvopohjaisten palveluiden kehittäminen

Työssä tutkitaan asiakasarvopohjaisten elinkaaritietoon perustuvien palveluiden kehittämistä. Tavoitteena on löytää asiakasarvo tuulivoimaliiketoiminnassa, selvittää mitä palveluja voidaan tuottaa elinkaaritietoon pohjautuen ja millainen kehitysprosessi palveluille ABB:n ympäristössä voidaan kuvata. Tutkimusongelmaa on tarkasteltuLCB-tutkimusprojektin tulosten ja kirjallisuuden pohjalta. Teoriat voidaan jakaa kolmeen osaan, asiakasarvoon, dataan ja kehitysprosessiin. Ensimmäisessä osassa keskitytään tarjoaman muutokseen, rooleihin liiketoimintaverkostossa ja asiakasarvon laskennalliseen määritykseen. Toisessa osassa keskitytään datan palveluksi jalostamiseen ja kolmannessa palvelun kehitysprosessin tutkimiseen. Tutkimustuloksia on verifioitu case-tutkimuksen avulla ja erästä asiakasta on lähestytty case-tapauksena haastattelun avulla. Asiakas on profiloitu haastattelun perusteella tavoitteena löytää asiakasarvo ja kiinnostus uusia palveluja kohtaan. Uusia palveluita on kehitetty sekä eksplisiittisen että hiljaisen tiedon pohjalta. Näiden pohjalta on luotu toimivia palvelukonsepteja ja ideointivaiheen kehitysprosessi on dokumentoitu. Työstä on tehty kaksi eri versiota, joista tämä on suppeampi.

Kunnossapito käyttöomaisuuden arvon ja tuottokyvyn ylläpidon tukena laitoksen elinkaaren aikana

Työssä tutkittiin kunnossapidon mahdollisuuksia vaikuttaa laitoksen elinkaareen ja elinkaaren aikaisiin kustannuksiin. Lisäksi tutkittiin teknisen suunnittelun vaikutusta kunnossapidettävyyteen ja laitoksen elinkaarikustannuksiin. Työn kirjallisuusosassa on tarkasteltu nykyaikaisia kunnossapidon menetelmiä.Erityisesti on tutkittu luotettavuuskeskeistä kunnossapitoa ja kunnossapidon tehtäviä laitoksen elinkaaren aikana. Investoinnin laitevalinnoilla ja niiden suunnittelulla on myös merkittävä vaikutus käyttöön ja erityisesti kunnossapitoon. Työn empiirisessä osassa selvitettiin Botnia Mill Servicen jaMetsä - Botnian toimintamalleja Joutsenon sellutehtaalla. Erityisesti keskityttiin suuriin korjauksiin ja niiden kustannusten hallintaan. Myös kunnossapidon toimintamallia ja sen kehittämistä on tutkittu. Kokeellisessa osassa selvitettiin kunnossapidolle tyypillinen toimintamalli laitoksen elinkaaren hallintaa varten. Tehdyn selvityksen pohjalta voidaan todeta, että pitkän tähtäimen suunnittelu luo pohjaa kustannusten hallinnalle ja laitteiden kunnon ylläpidolle. Suunnittelun aikajänne tulisi olla laitteiden kunnostusten osalta vähintään kolme vuotta. Koko laitoksen kattava elinkaarisuunnitelma on hyvä laatia joheti käyttöönottovaiheen jälkeen. Pitkäjänteisellä suunnittelulla ja sen toteutuksella pystytään parhaalla mahdollisella tavalla ylläpitämään käyttöomaisuuden arvo. Kunnossapidolla on mahdollisuus vaikuttaa laitoksen käyttöomaisuuden arvonylläpitoon hallitsemalla elinkaarikustannuksia. Kunnossapidon onnistuneen toteutuksen takaa oikeanlainen johtaminen ja jatkuva osaamisen ylläpito. Myös kunnossapidossa sovitut toimintamallit ja järjestelmien jatkuva ylläpito ja kehittäminen takaavat onnistuneen toiminnan.

Käytettävyyspalvelu Infranet-liiketoiminnassa

Vapautuneet sähkömarkkinat sekä yhteiskunnan kasvanut riippuvuus katkeamattomasta sähkön saannista ovat kannustaneet palveluntoimittajia kehittämään uusia palvelukonsepteja tyydyttämään sähköverkkoyhtiöihin kohdistuneita kasvavia vaatimuksia. Yhtenä ratkaisuna esitetään käytettävyyspalvelun tarjoamista, jolla palveluntoimittaja takaa tietyn käytettävyystason tietyllä vuosimaksulla. Samoin palveluntoimittaja antaa arvolupauksen, että käytettävyystaso saavutetaan tai palveluntoimittaja joutuu maksamaan sakkoa asiakkaalle. Käytettävyyden parantamisella pyritään parantamaan katkeamatonta sähkönsiirtoa. Tämän seurauksena keskeytyskustannukset ja loppukäyttäjille maksettavat vakiokorvaukset pienenevät. Sähköverkkoyhtiöt eivät kuitenkaan ole vielä valmiita ulkoistamaan toimintaansa siinä määrin, mitä palveluntoimittaja vaatisi voidakseen toimittaa käytettävyyspalvelua ja kantaa kokonaisvastuun asiakkaan tuloksesta. Näin ollen käytettävyyspalvelun ei ole mandollinen tämän hetken verkkoliiketoiminnassa, vaan sen sijaan tulisi puhua elinkaaripalveluista. Elinkaaripalveluiden avulla voitaisiin sitoa asiakas vahvasti yhteen palveluntoimittajaan verkkojen suunnittelusta purkuun saakka.